Stop Picking It Up!

I have some wonderful imagery based on a devotional written by James MacDonald regarding trusting God. Scripture tells us to give our problems to God and trust Him with our problems. Our mistake is that once we leave our problems at His feet, we keep picking them up again!

So I have this image of packing all of my problems which I keep praying about in a box. I place the box at God's feet during morning prayer. Then midway through the day, I pick up the box again. It's like I think it's too much for God or that I can't let Him carry it for me. I just keep insisting on carrying it myself.

Not only is carrying the box physically harming me (heart palps, stress, ulcers, etc.), but it's spiritually harming me. I'm thinking about the box more than I'm praising God. Isn't this idolatry?

I know many of you are carrying your boxes also. Let's make a pact to leave them at God's feet and stop picking them up. I think God is stronger than us and is better equipt to carry them.

Remember Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

God Holds Your Hand

(For best effects, scroll down to the Playlist box and click on the Hootie & the Blowfish song before reading this post!)

Isn't that a wonderful image to have? While I'm going through everything, God is beside me, holding my hand. I feel so comforted by that.

I've been reading through Isaiah because it's a great place to dwell when you feel the world is coming to an end (because of stress, not actual horrific disaster). After each end of the world, doom and gloom passage, Isaiah gives hope. Combining a couple great passages I've come up with the following:

Dear Lord,

You are my salvation as a I struggle to trust you completely and not be afraid. You are the source of strength that gets me through each day.

I am trying not to fear or be dismayed, because you are my God. You give me strength and will hold me up with your righteous hand.

You hold my right hand and tell me not to be afraid because you are with me.

Thank you Lord for the scriptures that remind me to trust and not fear. Through the Holy Spirit I will learn to trust. Through Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Prayer based on these pasages:

Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afaid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation.

Isaiah 40:10 Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.

Isaiah 40:13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."